Drop-In Center

Our drop-in Welcome Center is a place where individuals experiencing homelessness can find a safe place off the streets and connect to a host of solution-driven services. The Welcome Center supports participants with basic needs such as food, showers, laundry, personal hygiene supplies, clothing, access to free medical and mental health services—and referrals to community based services and resources. All participants are offered supportive case management who provides assistance in achieving identified goals.

Services at the Welcome Center encourage participants to be connected with the community and to pursue opportunities that lead toward stability. In addition to helping to address basic needs, the Welcome Center helps individuals access vital documents (Birth Certificates, Identification, Social Security Cards), apply for benefits (SNAP/Food Stamps, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI), and search for employment. In order to facilitate opportunities for connection, the Welcome Center offers personal-mail distribution services and phone access.

The Welcome Center also serves as a primary assessment site for the District of Columbia’s Coordinated Entry system for single adults and transition-age youth. Individuals who are experiencing “literal homelessness” (living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, outdoors, and other places not meant for permanent habitation) are welcome to visit the Welcome Center to complete a VI-SPDAT housing assessment. Single youth/young adults who are under the age of 25 who are literally homeless or unstably housed may be eligible to complete a TAY-VI-SPDAT as well.

In 2017, the Friendship Place Welcome Center served 996 individuals, totaling over 7,000 service transactions. We also conducted 336 Coordinated Entry Assessments.

What We Provide

Meals

Laundry & Shower facilities

Personal hygiene supplies

Clothing (Socks/Underwear/T-shirts)

Health and Mental Health services

Supportive Services & Street Outreach

Coordinated Entry/Housing assessment (DC)

Resources and Referrals

Vital Document & Benefits Assistance

Mail Coordination & Phone Usage

Who We Serve

Any person experiencing homelessness who is in need of basic necessities, medical and mental health services, housing assessment, referrals to other Friendship Place programs and citywide services.

Need Help?

Your Donation Helps End Homelessness!

Your support for Friendship Place has a lasting impact. In 2017, Friendship Place’s programs collectively ended or prevented homelessness for 3,600 people through creative, customized housing solutions, and empowered 290 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to get jobs through innovative, state-of-the-art job placement services. Make a donation today in support of our work to end homelessness.